Steveawiggins

LATEST ARTICLES ( 4522 )

• Huge Or Not?

  

  The word “refugee,” I recently learned, was originally coined to refer to the Huguenots. As the Reformation began to take hold in Europe, although mostly... Read more

  Posted on 24 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Washed Out Or Burnt Over?

  

  Is America a Christian nation? The answer to that question will no doubt raise ire in some part of the room. People, speaking mostly without data, will assert... Read more

  Posted on 23 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Viking Trail

  

  History is a powerful elixir, capable of transforming sinners to saints with the mere passage of time. Well, calling Vikings saints may be a bit of a stretch,... Read more

  Posted on 22 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Doodle Dandy

  

  Deep in the stacks of the New College library at Edinburgh University, I came upon a book in the open shelves with a date of 1611. Read more

  Posted on 21 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• North Tarrytown

  

  Ichabod Crane has undergone many incarnations since Washington Irving conjured him. Not very sympathetically described in the original “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,... Read more

  Posted on 20 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Empire State

  

  Hegemony is a funny word. In studies of antiquity it is commonly found since it denotes the “Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group... Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Know It All

  

  Perhaps it’s the fact that I had a career malfunction in the middle of my chosen vocation, or perhaps it’s a natural consequence of earning an advanced degree. Read more

  Posted on 18 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Monsters of Science

  

  Maybe it’s the ebola in the air, or perhaps the gas from all the midterm elections verbiage, but I’ve been on a monster run this October. Read more

  Posted on 17 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Campus Crusade

  

  The Chronicle of Higher Education also chronicles the trials and travails of religion in academia. A recent edition of CHE reported on how California State... Read more

  Posted on 16 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Gothic American

  

  American Gothic, the painting by Grant Wood, caused me trouble at Routledge. An author wanted to use the image on the cover of his book (we eventually managed... Read more

  Posted on 15 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Autumn Music

  

  It is an experience as old as humanity itself. At least humanity that started to realize that age, as remote as it may seem, will always eventually catch up wit... Read more

  Posted on 14 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• The Open Sea

  

  “In 1492,” they tell me, “Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” As a feat of science in the age of discovery, there is no doubt that this was an event worth... Read more

  Posted on 13 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• The Joy of Tech

  

  In the age of Steampunk, New Jersey is among the world capitals. Indeed, today is the second day that the International Steampunk City will be inhabited in... Read more

  Posted on 12 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Lions Among Men

  

  Facial follicle emasculation, i.e. shaving, has some interesting religious implications. A recent Associated Press story highlighted this when students at... Read more

  Posted on 11 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• De Profundis

  

  In a grocery store last week a friend pointed out how many magazines had pictures of Robin Williams on the cover. Although his suicide two months ago was tragic... Read more

  Posted on 10 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Monster Mash

  

  In one of those ironies of personal history, I never met Linda Godfrey although we lived not far from one another and shared a great many common interests. Read more

  Posted on 09 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Small Town Heroes

  

  When World War Three starts I hope someone will let me know. You see, I barely have time to satisfy the needs of employers and tax collectors to get everything... Read more

  Posted on 08 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Literally Biology

  

  In a New York Times opinion piece on a recent Sunday (ironically, always on a Sunday), college biology professor David P. Barash submitted an article entitled... Read more

  Posted on 07 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• See Serpent

  

  Seeing, it is said, is believing. I have a feeling that this truism may have become effaced somewhat in this age of deft photo manipulation and apps that are... Read more

  Posted on 06 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Theatrical Desert

  

  While the appellation T. E. Lawrence may leave many scratching their heads, “Lawrence of Arabia” will still garner nods of recognition. Of course, having a majo... Read more

  Posted on 05 October 2014 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY